Trip reports

Farlington

Saturday, 17 March 2007

We traveled to Farlington with the hope of our first sightings of early spring migrants. A stiff wind and the recent colder weather spoilt the plan, but we were still treated to a number of good birds, many of whom were showing particularly fine views of pristine plumage in the bright sunlight. There were a large number of brent geese present, close up views were obtained at the car park and a sizable party were bathing in the far pool. Also seen were a minimum of 17 red breasted mergansers across the main channel. The water level was quite high at the roost point, but we were able to find 3 snipe and a small party of black tailed godwits arrived with breeding plumage in evidence. Other sightings from the sea wall included redshank, grey plover, ringed plover, curlew, dunlin, oystercatcher, great created grebe, cormorant, herring gull, black headed gull and greater black backed gull. Inside the sea wall there were large numbers of starlings, widgeon, teal and shelduck. In addition we found little egret, little grebe, mute swan reed bunting, pheasant, mallard, meadow pipit, skylark, green finch, coot, moorhen, common gull and grey heron. No raptors were present all day, although we did spot a kestrel and a common buzzard on the return journey.